The Fund for Reconciliation and Development is coordinating two trips in April.
April 28-May 8 A familiarization (FAM) trip designed for travel professionals which concludes with an opportunity to observe Cuba's annual International Tourism Fair.
It will cover the most common destinations currently offered by People to People licensees in central Cuba, and a few less visited.
If the President opens all non-tourist trips to a general license, and ends the Travel Service Provider monopoly, he will create substantial new business opportunities for the US travel industry.
The total cost from New York for eleven days if we have at least fifteen persons should be about $2000 per person double occupancy (including air via Grand Cayman), plus $205 for a single supplement. This is about half of the normal cost. For people not departing from New York, the total cost with departure from Grand Cayman or Cancun should be about $1700.* Most lunches and dinners, plus tips and incidentals are additional; plan for about $500 (cash only). If the group is 10 to 14, cost will increase by $100. If 5 to 9 pax, add $600.
With the generous assistance of Sol Melia, hotel nights in Varadero, Cayo Santa Maria and Havana will be 5 star. Hotels in Trinidad and Cienfuegos are 4 star. Sancti Spiritus is 3 star. Breakfast is included at all hotels.
The draft itinerary:
Tues, Apr 29Matanzas Province Marina
Thur, May 1 Sancti Spiritus colonial city (Hotel Del Rio--3*)
Fri, May 2Trinidad
world heritage colonial city (Hotel La Ronda--4*)
Sun, May 4 bus toHavana
Mon, May 5
Tues, May 6Havana
Weds, May 7Havana
Thur, May 8Havana
- Grand Cayman - New York
There will be an opportunity in Havana to meet counterparts from Canada and Europe attending the International Tourism Fair, an annual event where they plan programs for the next year. http://www.fitcuba.com/
Flights from and to Grand Cayman
departure
KX 832
GCM
Apr 28
01:20 PM
HAV
Apr 28
03:20 PM
return
KX 835
HAV
May 08
06:00 AM
GCM
May 08
06:00 AM
alternate return (may require overnight)
KX 833
HAV
May 08
04:20 PM
GCM
May 08
04:20 PM
May 4-8 An abbreviated Havana only trip will total about $1500 from New York, or $1200 from Grand Cayman or Cancun. If the group is 10 to 14, cost will increase by $50. If 5 to 9 pax, add $300.
Why this route? There is a very good connection now from New York through Grand Cayman four days a week that we want to strengthen. The expense of Cayman-Havana is almost $200 less than Miami-Havana, including a reduced visa cost and much better weight allowance. There is also a level of uncertainty about visas for the charter flights due to a banking problem resulting from US policy. At the end of the day, I think it will be solved, but I want to avoid uncertainty. By not using a TSP (necessary for a Miami departure) the cost is also reduced, while being completely permitted by US regulations for licensed travelers. Participants who prefer to go directly to Grand Cayman, should arrange flights arriving from the US by 11 a.m., or the day before.
Flying from Cancun at 2:05 p.m. is also possible, with arrival from the US by 11 a.m. or the day before.
**********************
April 21-27 Immediately preceding the FAM, is participation in an Irish heritage / celtic festival program under development. This should also cost around $2000 door to door from New York ($1700 from Grand Cayman or Cancun) because we are using bed and breakfasts. http://tinyurl.com/CubaO-Leary
In many ways it is a preview of a more formal hotel based program in November which should appeal to Irish American clients. http://tinyurl.com/CubaMoloney
For further information about these trips and a registration form, contact John McAuliff, director@ffrd.org 917-859-9025
April 28-May 8 A familiarization (FAM) trip designed for travel professionals which concludes with an opportunity to observe Cuba's annual International Tourism Fair.
It will cover the most common destinations currently offered by People to People licensees in central Cuba, and a few less visited.
If the President opens all non-tourist trips to a general license, and ends the Travel Service Provider monopoly, he will create substantial new business opportunities for the US travel industry.
The total cost from New York for eleven days if we have at least fifteen persons should be about $2000 per person double occupancy (including air via Grand Cayman), plus $205 for a single supplement. This is about half of the normal cost. For people not departing from New York, the total cost with departure from Grand Cayman or Cancun should be about $1700.* Most lunches and dinners, plus tips and incidentals are additional; plan for about $500 (cash only). If the group is 10 to 14, cost will increase by $100. If 5 to 9 pax, add $600.
With the generous assistance of Sol Melia, hotel nights in Varadero, Cayo Santa Maria and Havana will be 5 star. Hotels in Trinidad and Cienfuegos are 4 star. Sancti Spiritus is 3 star. Breakfast is included at all hotels.
The draft itinerary:
Mon, Apr 28
(JFK) - Grand Cayman - Havana
Relax, dinner at hotel
Tues, Apr 29
San Severino fortress and slavery museum
Lunch
Ediciones Vijias hand made books
Triunvirato
slave rebellion memorial
San Miguel de los Banos
Xanadu
Dupont mansion (for drinks)
Dinner at hotel
Wed, Apr 30 Santa Clara
Che memorial
Lunch
Remedios: visit old style hotels and the
Catholic church
Hotel Melia Cayo Santa Maria
Thur, May 1 Sancti Spiritus colonial city (Hotel Del Rio--3*)
lunch
Visit to Nunez Jimenez Foundation and organic
farm service learning project
Dinner on own
Fri, May 2
Museum and walking tour with the
architect Victor Echenaguzia
Lunch at restaurant Plaza
Optional visit to pottery workshop Casa del Alfarero Santander
dinner and music on own
Sat, May
3 Cienfuegos (Hotel La Union or Jagua--4*)
Jardin Botanico
Lunch at paladar
with friends from University
of Cienfuegos
Walking tour of
Cienfuegos city center, Terry Theater
Choral group
Dinner at
paladar Finca Los Colorados
Sun, May 4 bus to
Lunch at Casa de la Amistad
Welcome to Havana
Presentation on tourism by Tony Diaz, University of Havana
Check in at
hotel
Dinner at
private cafe next to theater Arenal
Opera de la
Calle (Opera of the Streets)
Mon, May 5
Briefing on social/economic change at Melia Cohiba hotel
Regla dual faith church, presentation
on Santaria, NSila cheche afro-cuban dance program
Ferry across the bay
Lunch at
paladar Dona Eutima, Plaza de la
Cathedral
Havana Vieja lecture at model of city by architect Miguel
Coyula
Artisan
market
Dinner at
Arte Chef with mojito demonstration
Cultural options: Habana Café, Jazz Café; bar crawl in Habana
Vieja; salsa; Buena Vista Social
Club style music; Tropicana, etc.
Tues, May 6
FIT + ??
Cultural options:
Habana Café, Jazz Café; bar crawl in Habana Vieja; salsa; Buena Vista
Social
Club style music; Tropicana, etc.
Weds, May 7
FIT + ??
Dinner at Atelier
Cultural options:
Habana Café, Jazz Café; bar crawl in Habana Vieja; salsa; Buena Vista
Social
Club style music; Tropicana, etc.
Thur, May 8
Tuesday and Wednesday will depend on schedule of
International Tourism Fair, but should include:
-- Finca Vijia with conversation
-- visits
to hotels (Nacional, Habana Libre, Parque Central, Capri, ¿?)
--
Fuster community art project
-- Amistur suggestión of
social/educational/health institution
-- Choice between Museum of Art
-- Discussion at hotel of US-Cuba relations with
Carlos Alzugaray and Lynn Roche / USINT
Flights from and to Grand Cayman
departure
KX 832
GCM
Apr 28
01:20 PM
HAV
Apr 28
03:20 PM
return
KX 835
HAV
May 08
06:00 AM
GCM
May 08
06:00 AM
alternate return (may require overnight)
KX 833
HAV
May 08
04:20 PM
GCM
May 08
04:20 PM
May 4-8 An abbreviated Havana only trip will total about $1500 from New York, or $1200 from Grand Cayman or Cancun. If the group is 10 to 14, cost will increase by $50. If 5 to 9 pax, add $300.
Why this route? There is a very good connection now from New York through Grand Cayman four days a week that we want to strengthen. The expense of Cayman-Havana is almost $200 less than Miami-Havana, including a reduced visa cost and much better weight allowance. There is also a level of uncertainty about visas for the charter flights due to a banking problem resulting from US policy. At the end of the day, I think it will be solved, but I want to avoid uncertainty. By not using a TSP (necessary for a Miami departure) the cost is also reduced, while being completely permitted by US regulations for licensed travelers. Participants who prefer to go directly to Grand Cayman, should arrange flights arriving from the US by 11 a.m., or the day before.
Flying from Cancun at 2:05 p.m. is also possible, with arrival from the US by 11 a.m. or the day before.
**********************
April 21-27 Immediately preceding the FAM, is participation in an Irish heritage / celtic festival program under development. This should also cost around $2000 door to door from New York ($1700 from Grand Cayman or Cancun) because we are using bed and breakfasts. http://tinyurl.com/CubaO-Leary
In many ways it is a preview of a more formal hotel based program in November which should appeal to Irish American clients. http://tinyurl.com/CubaMoloney
For further information about these trips and a registration form, contact John McAuliff, director@ffrd.org 917-859-9025
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